Amusement device



Nov. 8, 1932. E. ELlvlRDY AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Sept. 11. 1951 7g/mw.- im /w/ @www muy, @M Y Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES ELISHA ELIVIRDY, OF CHICAGO, ILLNOIS AMUSEMENT DEVICE Application led September 11, 1931. Serial No. 562,246.

The invention relates tov an amusement device and particularly to a hand operated toy designed to provide amusement for small children.. Y

An object of the invention is to provide a novel toy which will give amusement through the medium of a weighted rotating member, rotated intermittently by hand, and functioning by the momentum of the rotating member to position the same for further actuation.

A further object is to provide a device adapted for hand actuation and including a rotating shaft having a weighted member secured therto, the device providing means journaling the shaft` for substantially frictionless rotation.

A further object is to provide a toy for rendering amusement to children which can be cheaply manufactured, will not readilyv get out of order, and which will be interesting and fascinating to operate.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain IB novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawing and claim appended hereto.

In the drawing which illustrates an em- 80 bodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the toy comprising the present invention and show ing the manner of operating the same;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the same, the casing being in section to show the journaling means for the rotating shaft;

.Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device, the supporting ring being omitted; and

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the device showing the attachment' of the Vsupporting rings to the casing.

Referring particularly to Figure 2, the present device is shown as comprising a casing formed of a top portion 10 and a bottom portion 12 secured together by means of the securing screws 14, which, in addition, rigidly secure to the casing the supporting rings 16. The casing frictionlessly journals a shaftlS having a pointed end 20 fitting in a recess provided in the portion 10 by the protuberance 22 and projecting through an opening provided in the lower portion 12 of the casing. Shaft 18 has rigidly .fitted thereto at its up- 55 per end a spool 24 and to its lower end a member 26 which has a formation to present a pleasing appearance to the device and which, in addition, functions by reason of its excessive weight to render the rotations of the shaft uniform .and to provide the necessary momentum to rewind the cord 28, which extends outwardly of the Casin through opening 30 onto the spool 24. earings 32 are located in recesses formed in the inner wall of portion 12 for the purpose of frictionlessly supporting the shaft and spool in the casing so that rotations can be imparted to the shaft and member with very little'exertion and will continue for an extended period.

The device is adapted to be held by the thumb and finger of the hand, Figure 1, by the insertion of the same through the supporting rings 16, while the fingers of the other hand grasp .the looped end of the cord 28. To operate the toy the cord is given a pull toward the right, causing rotation of the shaft and weighted member. Tension on the cord is maintained by the operator until its entire length has been unwound from the spool when the pull on the same should be quickly discontinued allowing a slight amount of slack toy form in the cord. By allowing slack to form in the cord the same is easily rewound on the spool without interfering with the rotating member. The pull exerted by the operator imparts rotary movement to the shaft and member which continues by reason of the momentum of the l weighted member until the cord is again wound on the spool.` Upon completion 'of the above winding operation another pull on the cord is initiated by the operator to cause rotation of the shaft and member in an opposite direction, whereupon the procedure as outlined is repeated. The winding and unwinding of the cord takes place alternately while the rotations of the member and shaft occur intermittently and in opposite directions, the procedure resulting in a fascinating pastime particularly amusing and interesting to children.

It is to be understood that I do not Wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claim.

I claim:

An amusement device comprising in combination, a separable casing formed of a top and bottom portion, projecting ears provided on the portions respectively and positioned in alignment for receiving securing means fastening the portions together, a shaft journalled in the casing and projecting through one Wall thereof, a weighted member secured to the projecting end of the shaft, supporting rings attached to the casing by said securing means, and an operating cord Wound on that portion of the shaft Within the casing and extending through an aperture to the outside of the casing.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 5th day of September, 1931.

ELISHA ELIVIRDY. 

